Case Number 13085

HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE (2002): VOLUME ONE

The Charge

I have the power! Version 2.0!

Opening Statement

This 21st century rejuvenation of the classic '80s cartoon gets the vaunted
BCI Eclipse treatment. Is Eternia worth revisiting?

Facts of the Case

Prince Adam is a slacker and his stud dad King Randor bemoans the fact he's
not up to the task of being as bad-ass as his old man was. See, back in the day
Randor and his league of Defenders repelled an invading force of bad guys led by
a blue-clad evil bastard that would eventually become Skeletor thanks to a face
full of acid.

Now, years and years later, Skeletor is back on the prowl, shadowed by his
loyal band of freakish misfits -- Beast Man, Evil Lyn, Triclops, etc -- and
determined to finish what he started. To protect Eternia, the Sorceress summons
Prince Adam to Castle Grayskull, where she zaps him with her mojo and he is
endowed with the ability to transform into He-Man, the most powerful man in the
universe.

Volume One sports the first 13 episodes from the first season on three
discs.

The Evidence

A few things have changed since we last saw Skeletor and the kids, but much
of the He-Man mythology has remained intact for the reboot. And, thankfully,
this series has nothing to do with the horror that was The New Adventures of
He-Man. So let's do a compare and contrast between the original and new
series...

* He-Man All business this time. He takes out the trash minus
the extensive sermonizing, though his do-gooder one-liners are missed. Some
better-defined deltoids make up for that though.

* Skeletor The new Skeletor is as much the verbally abusive
prick he was back in the old days, but he's sporting some ninja-like agility
this go-round so good for him.

* Prince Adam Adam from the '80s was a fragile Boy Scout with a
sotto voce that proved his testilces hadn't dropped yet. Adam from 2002 is more
or less and snot-nosed kid, but at least he has some personality and
feistiness.

* Cringer/Battlecat Battlecat 2002 is more ferocious, though
Cringer 2002, while still a pussy (rimshot!) is lacking the comic relief of his
'80s predecessor.

* Man-at-Arms Essentially the same in both series, tough 2002
version gets points for his left hand, which can transform into a cannon.

* Teela The more practical outfit alone gives 2002 Teela the
edge. As cheaply thrilling as the '80s formfitting/high-heels ensemble was, the
new Teela's outfit and attitude make for a nicer complement to He-Man.

* King Randor No contest. King Randor from two decades ago sat
in his throne all day and tended to his beard. The new Randor plays for f --
-- -- keeps.

* Orko Still annoying after 20 years, so nostalgia carries '80s
Orko.

Other favorites like Stratos and Beastman and Ram-Man and Merman are present
and accounted for. Overall, I really dug this reimagining of the classic series,
though "reimagining" might not be the right word, if it's a word at
all (I'm getting the red squiggly line underneath it though I'm sure I've heard
it before).

The storylines are still out there, but that's what you'd expect from a kids
fantasy series. The major changes, substance-wise, have to with the characters,
who simply aren't as cheesy and one-dimensional as they used to be. Skeletor is
still all about the evil, but he's not a whiny buffoon. And He-Man is more an
action hero than a guy who stands around lecturing villains then punches the
screen. Adam benefits the most from the update. Little more than a placeholder
in other shows, he's got more of a character in this series, and the
juxtaposition between him and He-Man is more in line with the familiar construct
of super-heroes and their mild-mannered alternate identities.

The animation is quite good. The series sports an anime-inspired sense of
style, which lends itself to more dynamic action sequences, of which there are
plenty in the series. Though most of the characters retain their original looks
(thankfully, especially when you consider the abortions that were the New
Adventures of He-Man models), the 2002 interpretations are highly detailed
and basically cooler. The real surprise in all of this was the score, easily one
of the best I've heard for an animated show and right up there with Batman:
The Animated Series.

All of these elements come together nicely in another stellar presentation
from BCI Eclipse. These guys know and love their He-Man and their latest release
boasts the style and top-notch audio and visual treatment I've come to expect
from the studio. Episodes receive a crystal-clear 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen
transfer that accentuates the art style well. The Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo mix
works that great soundtrack to satisfaction. The packaging is absolutely
beautiful, too.

Extras are great. Five commentaries from the filmmakers on the first two
discs are insightful and obviously delivered by guys who have a love for the
product. The third disc is solely for bonus materials. The standout is the
series of three video commentaries, featuring a running storyboard comparison
and shots of the guys delivering their commentary. It's a great supplemental.
Animatics, still galleries and a 25-minute highlight show wrap up the excellent
offering.

Closing Statement

This is a fun, sweet-looking animated resuscitation of an iconic property. As
a He-Man fan, I whole-heartedly approve. BCI Eclipse knocks another one out of
the park with a top-shelf set.